Mental Health In The Workplace

Creating a work environment that acknowledges the importance of promoting positive mental health.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and what better way to raise awareness than discussing mental health in the workplace. This is a topic that I personally feel is not discussed enough and I think it is important to know the ins and outs in order to be the best employee you can be while still taking care of yourself.

Why is Mental Health an Important Topic in the Workplace?

According to Indeed,

• About one in five adults in the U.S. experience a mental illness every year

• 61% of workers said their mental health affected their productivity

• 37% of workers said their work environment contributed to the mental health symptoms they experienced

Given these statistics, this is not something that can continue to be overlooked. Here are a few things that will hopefully help you promote positive mental health for yourself, your employees, and your company.

Eliminate the stigma associated with mental health concerns

Bringing up mental health issues, especially in the workplace, has a negative connotation. We are getting rid of that stigma TODAY. It is time to normalize having these conversations because not only are they important, but they are completely reasonable. Don’t be afraid to ask HR what your company is doing to promote mental health awareness. It is important to know that the company you are working for has created guidelines for health and safety and that does not just mean physical health.

Create a positive work environment

Creating a work environment that is organized and near stress-free will not only positively affect your performance, but also the performance of those around you. There are many ways that you can create a positive work environment for yourself. Some of these include staying organized, forming positive relationships with your co-workers, and developing a workspace that is orderly. All of these things will hopefully empower you to completely focus on being productive in a more balanced workplace.

Focus on what you can control

I know for me personally, especially when it comes to work, this is a lot easier said than done. I strive for things to be perfect and I want everything to work out the way that I have planned it in my head. However, I had to let go of this idea and learn to be more flexible. I realized that for a lot of people, much of the stress that comes with work has to do with things that are out of their control. The best way to combat this is to focus on what we can control - such as our work ethic and our attitude - rather than the outcome.

The sooner we can acknowledge the importance of discussing mental health in the workplace, the sooner companies are able to reap the benefits. Employees will be more productive, better communicators, and performance will skyrocket. Although this discussion should be something that is implemented at a company level, it can start with you. How are you going to take care of your mental health at work?

Thanks for reading!

Stay positive.

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